Koppen says this transition should be a snap

FOXBOROUGH - Any time you have a new quarterback, one area to keep an eye on is the exchange from center. It's the simplest of plays, yet the most precarious.

Center Dan Koppen said he doesn't think snapping the ball to quarterback Matt Cassel will be a major problem Sunday against the New York Jets, but he acknowledged a different chemistry with a new quarterback.

"I've worked with Cassel over the last four years," said Koppen. "Knock on wood, it hasn't been a problem. I think we're comfortable enough with each other, so I don't think it should be a problem."

Koppen said switching from Tom Brady to Cassel is a lot easier at this point than if he had to work with a quarterback he'd never snapped the ball to. He said some quarterbacks like a different feel on the snap from center. Hand placement, footwork, how a quarterback pulls away from center can all vary.

"It's a different feel with different quarterbacks," said the Patriots' Pro Bowl center. "It's kind of hard to explain. It definitely feels different when you're rotating guys in there, but if you work enough with a guy, you know where he wants the ball, you just get comfortable."

One area in which Koppen is confident and comfortable with Cassel is calling out and changing the protection schemes for the offensive line. One of Brady's greatest strengths was to recognize defenses and put the Patriots in the proper protection scheme. More of that responsibility could fall to Koppen. But Koppen thinks Cassel will be in command of the pass-blocking calls, and Koppen's workload in that area will not increase too much.

"I don't think so," said Koppen. "I think Matt is very knowledgeable about this offense. All of the linemen will help in whatever way possible, but he knows what's going on."

Broken coverage

The last thing you want when you're facing Brett Favre is to have banged-up cornerbacks, but that could be the situation for the Patriots. Yesterday, cornerbacks Ellis Hobbs and Lewis Sanders, both of whom started last week against Kansas City, were on the practice participation report.

Both players had limited participation - Hobbs with a shoulder injury and Sanders with a head injury. Hobbs had surgery during the offseason to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder, but it is not known which shoulder is injured.

Wide receivers Randy Moss (back) and Jabar Gaffney (knee) had limited participation for the second straight day, and linebacker Eric Alexander (calf) was added to the list.

Neither tight end Benjamin Watson (knee) nor wide receiver Sam Aiken (knee) practiced. Both sat out last Sunday. Aiken has been out since Aug. 7. Watson was spotted in the locker room prior to practice, walking without a noticeable limp. Watson politely declined comment, intimating he'll be able to talk when he's healthy enough to play.

The Jets had no changes to their practice report from Wednesday, with the same five players on the limited participation list: cornerback David Barrett (shoulder), defensive end Shaun Ellis (hand), cornerback/return man Justin Miller (foot), and wide receivers Laveranues Coles (thigh) and Marcus Henry (calf).

Bus boys

Linebacker Adalius Thomas has a unique perspective on playing against Favre since he shares an alma mater (Southern Mississippi) and an agent (Bus Cook) with the legendary quarterback.

Favre and Thomas are probably the two most famous football players Southern Miss has produced.

"I think he'll win that battle, hands down, but he's a good dude," said Thomas, with a chuckle. "I talked to him a couple of times in the offseason. We hung out a little bit, so I'm looking forward to going against him again."

Thomas ran into Favre at Disney World during the offseason.

"We didn't go together, but he was there the same time I was there, and we spoke a little bit, and I know his wife, Deanna, and stuff," said Thomas. "Again, we have the same agent, so we knew each other and then being from the same school and the same area. That's basically it. It's not like we get together and go to dinner, nothing like that. But I know him well enough."

Thomas said he was just as baffled by Favre's on-again, off-again retirement as the rest of us, but now that Favre is back playing, it looks like he hasn't missed a beat.

"Same old Brett, ain't nothing changed about Brett but his age," said Thomas. "He can still make all the throws. He's still elusive. I don't know how he feels on Monday. I think he's done a good job."

Blocking it out

Running back Sammy Morris was asked if he watched a replay of the hit that ended Brady's season. Morris was blocking Chiefs safety Bernard Pollard, picking him up on a blitz, when Pollard dived into Brady's leg.

Morris had Pollard on his stomach with a good blitz pickup, but Morris was the closest Patriots blocker to Brady when he got hit and hurt. So, it's guilt by association in some people's minds.

Morris said he's seen the replay on television, but he's not beating himself up.

"I think it's always a matter of if something doesn't go well, I think everybody is second-guessing, but you know you can do that for 100 different plays out there and drive yourself crazy," said Morris.